Welcome to the Kicking For Home Guide to Budapest, and the first day of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary. For the next nine days Kicking For Home will have daily rundowns of the events to come, big news, tell you how to watch each day, and key takeaways from the day before and it will release every day at 12:00 am before each day’s competition. It will also feature Athletes to Watch for Today and The Race of the Day.

The Schedule

In the morning session, the competition will begin with the first final of the day, and of the whole competition, the men’s 20km race walk at 8:50 am (1:50 am CDT). Following that at 10:30 am (3:30 am CDT) is qualifying in the men’s shot put for groups A and B and the heats of the women’s heptathlon 100m hurdles follow that at 10:35 am (3:35 am CDT). The rest of the events include round one of the mixed 4x4 at 11:05 am (4:05 am CDT), round one of the men’s 3k steeplechase at 11:35 pm (4:35 am CDT), A and B women’s heptathlon high jump at 11:45 am (4:45 am CDT), the qualifying round for group A in the men’s hammer throw at noon (5:00 am CDT), and the qualifying round for group B hammer throw at 1:40 pm (6:40 am CDT), then is women’s A and B qualifying for long jump at 12:25 pm (5:25 am CDT), prelims for the men’s 100m at 12:35 pm (5:35 am CDT), round one of the women’s 1500m at 1:15 pm (6:15 am CDT), and the final event of the morning session, the qualifying round for group B in the men’s hammer throw at 1:40 pm (6:40 am CDT).

The evening session begins at 6:15 pm (11:15 am CDT) with the Opening Ceremony, following that is round one of the well-awaited event of this year’s championships, the first round of the men’s 1500m at 7:02 pm (12:02 pm CDT), following closely thereafter is the women’s heptathlon shot put for groups A and B at 7:05 pm (12:05 pm CDT), then is qualifying for group A of the men’s discus throw at 7:10 pm (12:10 pm CDT), after that is qualifying for groups A and B in the men’s triple jump at 7:35 pm (12:35 pm CDT), next is the first round of the men’s 100m at 7:43 pm (12:43 pm CDT), then another sprint event follows after with the heats of the women’s heptathlon 200m at 8:30 pm (1:30 pm CDT), then the first field event final of the competition, the men’s shot put at 8:35 pm (1:35 pm CDT), then there is another field event, with the qualifying for group B of the men’s discus throw at 8:40 pm (1:40 pm CDT), following that is the first distance final of the competition with the women’s 10000 meters at 8:55 pm (1:55 pm CDT), and the final event of the day and the last final of the day is the mixed 4x400 relay at 9:47 pm (2:47 pm CDT).

Big News in Budapest

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone

The World Record holder in the 400m hurdles, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has withdrawn from this year’s World Championships due to a “minor knee issue”. This is what she had to say about it “After consulting with my doctors and coaches, I need to take care of a minor knee issue so that I can be fully healthy for next year’s Paris Olympics.” on Instagram, she wrote, “I look forward to seeing everyone back on the track soon!”

In other news, a couple of weeks ago some significant rule changes were made for this year’s World Championships.

Athlete Replacement Policy

Starting it off, a new Athlete Replacement Policy has been put in place meaning in finals and semi-finals there will no longer be any empty lanes, all lanes that are left unfilled will be given to the next fastest competitor from the previous round.

Lane Lottery

The following rule change is slightly more impactful for the competitors. They have changed the lane assignments according to first-round time. In the past, if you were one of the 2 last-ranked athletes in the 100m, 200m, 400m, and 800m you would be in the two inside lines, and with the 2 next-ranked athletes you would be in the outside lanes. Now, if you were a part of the last ranked athletes you can either be in lane 1 or 8 in the 100m, in the 200m, In the 400m and 800m you can be in lane 1 or 2. Following that, the following 2 ranked athletes in the 100m, 400m, and 800m and the following 3 ranked athletes in the 200m will either be in lanes 2 or 7 in the 100m and lanes 3,4, or 8 in the 200m and in the 400m and 800m you will either be in lane 3 or 8. Now for the top-ranked athletes in the 100m, the four top-ranked athletes will stay in the middle of the track in lanes 3-6, in the 200m, there will be one less lane for top-ranked athletes and the lanes will go from 5-7 instead of the prior 3-6. Finally, in the 400m and 800m races the top-ranked athletes will be moved over one lane to go to lanes 4-7 instead of lanes 3-6.

Qualification to the next round in middle-distance events

This rule change is most likely the change that will affect most distance athletes. The rule is that all qualification in the middle distance events will be based on position in previous rounds contrary to the previous few that qualified due to their time. So in the 1500m, there will be 6 qualifiers per race compared to the previous five per heat. In the 3k Steeplechase, there will be 5 qualifiers compared to the previous 3 per heat. In the final race the 5k, it will go from 5 to 8 qualifiers per heat.

The Race(s) of the Day

Today I have chosen two races to be the Co-Races of the Day. Those two races are the prelims of the men’s 1500 meters and the final of the women’s 10000 meters. In the men’s 1500 the main storyline is how Jakob Ingebrigsten and the rest of the favorites perform in their respective heats, and who doesn’t make it out of the opening round. The second race of the day, the women’s 10000 meters is the Co-Race of the Day because it is the first distance final of the whole competition and a race that relies on each competitor’s tactics and it could very well end up in a sprint finish, it is also Sifan Hassan the reigning Olympic champion in the 5000m and 10000m’s first race of her attempt at winning the 1500m, 5000m, and the 10000m.

Athletes To Watch For Today

Jakob Ingebrigsten

The heavy favorite to win the 1500m title, Jakob Ingebrigsten is an athlete you need to watch. Jakob very well might become the greatest middle-distance runner of all time, If you would like to read my explanation of why I think he can become the G.O.A.T., click here.

That is why he is an athlete to watch for.

Elise Cranny

The U.S Distance Double Champion, Elise Cranny is an athlete you want to watch for. Elise had a very good US championships and en route to her two US titles, she had two great races with two varying different race tactics, click here to read about her two titles.

As I said earlier the 10k will be a race of great tactics and you need to watch for Elise Cranny.

Lamecha Girma

The World Record holder in the indoor 3k and the 3k steeplechase, Lamecha Girma, will be running in his 3k steeplechase prelim and you need to watch for him. Lamecha has had a very successful year running World Record times and winning almost all of his races and at this World Championships he looks to win his first title.

Faith Kipyegon

The athlete who has arguably had the best 2023, is Faith Kipyegon. Faith is the World Record holder in the 1500m, Mile, and 5k, and this World Championships she is hoping to secure her third World Championship and cement herself as one of the greatest of all time.

How To Watch Day One

Now you almost have all you need to know, But, the last and most crucial thing you must know is how you can watch day one of the 2023 World Athletics Championships. From 3:30-7:00 am CDT coverage will be on CNBC, and then coverage will resume at 12:00 pm CDT and will go on until 1:30 pm CDT on CNBC directly after thus the final coverage of the day will be on NBC going from 1:30 pm CDT to 3:00 pm CDT.